Is there a link between vasectomy and prostate cancer?

[TiggerHappy]

We have 2 dcs and no intention to have any more so dh planned to have a vasectomy (his idea). He had a pre-op yesterday, all fine, however he has now googled and discovered an apparent link between vasectomy and increased risk of prostate cancer and decided he doesn't want to go through with it. The only info I've found says there isn't a confirmed link, does anyone know??? Neither of us really understand statistics

[meditrina]

Try looking at this. More men who have had a vasectomy are diagnosed with prostate cancer, because by definition they have had contact with a doctor expert in that area who has had a good feel around, and are also more likely to go for screening.

[TiggerHappy]

Thanks, I'll show him and see if that helps. He just seems to have seen the cancer word and got scared. I was just hoping for a straight-forward way of solving the contraceptive problem for good (I had to stop taking the pill due to problems with hormones).

[meditrina]

And this is what Cancer Research UK has to say. The 'increased' risk is small and unproven, and is far outweighed by other known risk factors, such as diet, family history, ethnicity, smoking and alcohol consumption.

[TiggerHappy]

Where it talks about the increase risk ("ratios increasing with time since vasectomy, from 1.07 in the first 10 years to 1.23 after 30 years"), what does that mean in actual numbers? I understand the basic fact that the risk is small (if it exists) but an idea of numbers might help him (and me!).

[TheFuzz]

Prostate canser is the least of his worries. Google Post Vasectomy Pain Syndrome. Very good chances he'll get it, as high as 1 in 10 (Urology say 1 in 20 when you've got it).

I had mine 3 months ago and am in constant pain, also not helped that one side was botched.

I'm going to and from the GP and Urology - no-one want's to do anything incase they make it worse. Had I known about the possible issues, I wouldn't have bothered. Works well as a contraceptive as I'm in such pain !

[TiggerHappy]

Ouch, sounds awful. He's already had the horror stories from friends so is pretty aware of some of those risks, though I guess you just think it wont happen to you.